Streak retinoscope assembly

ABSTRACT

A streak retinoscope assembly comprising a generally tubular handle portion with a head mounted at one end and a unitary lamp and power source capsule telescopically and detachably received in the handle portion. The handle portion also includes latch means for holding the power capsule within the handle portion while permitting unlimited rotational movement of the capsule and limited axial movement of the capsule. Preferably the capsule contains rechargeable battery means and fixed connections within the capsule between the lamp and the battery means.

United States Patent 3,44l,340 4/1969 Moore etal.

Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant ExaminerPaul A. Sacher Attorney-Greist, Lockwood, Greenawalt and Dewey ABSTRACT: A streak retinoscope assembly comprising a generally tubular handle portion with a head mounted at one end and a unitary lamp and power source capsule telescopically and detachably received in the handle portion. The handle portion also includes latch means for holding the power capsule within the handle portion while permitting unlimited rotational movement of the capsule and limited axial movement of the capsule. Preferably the capsule contains rechargeable battery means and fixed connections within the capsule between the lamp and the battery means.

IN VE N TO RS JACOB C COPELAND WALTER M. LE WIS ATT'YS.

PATENIED AUG 3 Ian SHEET 2 BF 2 INVEN TORS JACOB c COPELAND w LTER M. EWIS ATT'YS.

STREAK RETINOSCOPE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The field ofthis invention is a streak retinoscope. The field of this invention is also that of a streak retinoscope assembly wherein the lamp socket and electrical connections for connecting the lamp socket with the source of electric potential are fixedly secured within an elongated unitary lamp and power source capsule received in a tubular handle portion of the retinoscope.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art streak retinoscopes a lamp and lamp socket were situated in the upper end of a handle portion of the retinoscope and mounted for limited or unlimited rotational movement and limited axial movement. Electrical contacts for connection to a source of electric potential were provided at the bottom of the handle portion for connection to a cord from an electrical power source. Between the electrical contacts and the lamp socket either wires were provided which were twisted when the lamp socket was rotated, or cooperating stationary and sliding contacts were provided with the sliding contacts being situated on a movable portion mounting the lamp socket and lamp. In the former arrangement only limited rotational movement of the lamp socket was possible since the wires could only be twisted so much. In this arrangement, repetitious bending of the wires took place resulting in an eventual breaking of the wires. In the latter arrangement the sliding contacts would eventually wear out, and prior to that, through the accumulation of dirt, a high resistance connection can develop across the contacts resulting in less power to the lamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To overcome the foregoing deficiencies in prior art retinoscopes, this invention provides a unitary lamp and power source capsule having fixed electrical connections therein between the lamp socket and a source of electric potential whereby the unified lamp and power source capsule move together with no moving contacts or wires between them. With this invention there are no movable wires or sliding contacts which could cause an eventual electrical failure, i.e. an open or short circuit. The capsule is telescopically and detachably received within a hollow tubular handle portion of the retinoscope for unlimited rotational and ample axial movement therein, for facilitating lamp replacement, and for permitting rapid interchange of different types of capsules. This invention also provides mechanism for raising or lowering, i.e. axially moving the capsule. Preferably the source of electric potential is obtained from rechargeable battery means contained within the power capsule, the battery means being connected to the lamp socket by fixed electrical connections within the capsule. Preferably the lower end of the capsule includes electrical contacts for connection to battery charging means and switch means for turning the lamp on and off. In addition, the head of the streak retinoscope containing the lens and mirror is preferably rotatably mounted so that the angular position of the head with respect to the latch means on the handle portion can be adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view with portions broken away of one embodiment ofthe streak retinoscope ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with portions broken away ofthe power capsule shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the head and handle portion of the retinoscope shown in FIG, I with the head rotated 90;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of part of the handle portion and the component parts of the latch means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view with portions broken away of another embodiment of the power capsule shown in FIG. 2 and including portions of the handle portion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a streak retinoscope forming one embodiment of this invention is generally indicated at 10. The principal component parts of the retinoscope 10 are: a handle portion 12; a head 14; and a unitary lamp and power source capsule 16,

The handle portion 12 comprises an upper lamp receiving portion 18, a lower hand grip portion 20 and an intermediate portion 22 bridging and connecting the lamp receiving portion 18 with the hand grip portion 20. Thelamp receiving portion 18 and the hand grip portion 20 are tubular and coaxially aligned to receive the elongated unitary lamp and power source capsule 16.

Referring to FIG. 2 a lamp 23 having a linear filament 23a and a lamp socket 24 are mounted at the upper end 25 of the capsule 16. The upper end 25 of the power capsule 16 has a beveled end surface 25a and is separated from the main body portion 26 thereof by an annular groove 30. The upper end 25 is of slightly less diameter than the body portion 26. The upper end 25 is adapted to be received in the lamp receiving portion 18. The lower end 27 of the power capsule 16 is enlarged and is connected to the body portioni26 by a frustoconical portion 28.

The lamp socket 24 includes two tubular contacts 32, 33 which extend downwardly from the lamp socket 24 and which are adapted to receive the standard pin contacts on a conventional bipin streak lamp 23. In FIG. 1, the bottom portion of the handle portion 12 and power capsule 16 are broken away to show one embodiment of the invention wherein the power capsule 16 has electrical contacts 35 and 36 within the lower end 27 thereof adapted for connection to an electrical cord from an electric power source not shown. Although contacts 35 and 36 are shown as circular pins of a male plug for com nection to a female plug it is tacts 35 and 36 can be of different configuration for connections to cords of other commercially available retinoscope units.

Wire conductors 37 and 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are connected between contacts 32 and 33 (FIG. 2) extending from lamp socket 24 and the electrical contacts 35 and 36 are rigidly secured to the power capsule 16, the wires 37 and 38 are fixed against rotation and will not move within the power capsule 16 when the power capsule is moved within the handle portion 12.

In FIG. 5 another embodiment of the power capsule of this invention is shown wherein wire conductors 39 and 40, similar to wire conductors 37 and 38, are connected between lamp 23 and an internal (self-contained) source of electric energy such as battery means 41 (comprising one or more battery cells). The connections to the lamp socket 24 are the same in both embodiments and identical parts in both embodiments are identified with the same reference numerals. In both embodiments the body portion 26 is tubular to receive either the conductors 37, 38 (FIG. 1) or the conductors 39, 40 (FIG 5) and cylindrical pluglike member 50 slidably received within a bore 51 formed in and axially of the lower end 27 of capsule 16. The lower end 27 (in both embodiments of the capsule) is made of insulating material and at least the upper cylindrical portion 52 ofthe generally cylindrical member 50 is made ofa conducting material. Preferably all of the cylindrical member 50 is made ofa conducting material such as a metal. A buttonlike operating member 54 is formed on the lower end of the cylindrical member 50 for moving manually the cylindrical member 50 axially inwardly and outwardly. The cylindrical member 50 also includes a toroidallike groove 55 adapted to receive a spring biased steel ball 58 when the switch 48 is in its off position. The middle portion 56 of member 50 between groove 55 and upper portion 52 is of reduced diameter so that one end 59 of a metal strip 60 can extend into the bore 51 without contacting middle portion 56.

The conductor 40 is connected to the metal strip 60 by means of a screw 61. The end 59 of strip 60 extends into the bore 51 for the purpose of contacting the cylindrical portion 52 of the cylindrical member 50 when the member 50 is move downwardly. A spring 64 is received in an axial bore 65 formed in the upper cylindrical portion 52 and electrically connects the cylindrical portion 52 with one end of the battery means 41. Thus when the button member 54 is pulled downwardly the cylindrical portion 52 will come into contact with the end 59 of metal strip 60 forming a complete electrical circuit to light the lamp 23. This circuit will be from the filament 23a of the lamp 23 through contact 33, conductor 40, strip 60, cylindrical portion 52, spring 64, battery means 41, spring 46, conductor 39, contact 32 back to the filament 23a ofthe lamp 23.

The conductor 39 extends into the lower end 27 ofthe capsule 16 for connection to a metal strip 66 secured within the lower end 27 by a screw 67v The lower end 27 includes an outer metal ring 70. The metal strip 66 has an angularly extending portion 71 which engages with the metal ring 70. The metal ring 70 and the button 54 are so designed as to form metal contacts for connection with a complementary formed socket ofa battery charger not shown. The lower end 72 ofthe hand grip portion 20 is counterbored at 73 for receiving the frustoconical portion 28 of the lower end 27 of capsule 16 when the capsule is inserted within the handle portion 12.

The intermediate portion 22 is in the form of a generally U- shaped channel member having sidewalls 75 and 76 and a bottom wall 77 as shown in FIG. 4. The channel opens laterally toward the capsule 16 and the bottom wall 77 is provided with a longitudinal slot 80 therein. The upper portion 82 of the in termediate portion 22 is connected to and forms part of the lamp receiving portion 18. I

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 a latch means indicated generally at 84 holds the power capsule 16 within the handle portion 12 while permitting unlimited rotational movement and limited axial movement of the capsule within the handle portion 12. The principal parts of the latch means84 are: an operating member 86; a latch 87; a counterbalance spring 88; and, a biasing spring 89.

The operating member 86 includes a guide post or boss 90 received within the slot 80. The operating member 86 is slidably received between guide ways 91 and 92 (FIG. 1) formed on the outer surface ofwall 77. The latch 87 is secured to the guide post 90 by means of a screw 94. One end 95 (NOS. 1 and 3) of the counterbalance spring 88 is secured to the latch 87 while the other end 96 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is secured within the lamp receiving portion 18 to a post 97 (FIG. 4) extending from the upper portion 82. The counterbalance spring 88 counterbalances the weight of capsule 16 so that said capsule will stay fixed in position after its position has been axially adjusted by moving the operating member 86. The latch 87 has a detent 98, preferably in the form of an outwardly extending flange 99 with a concave end 100, which is snap fittingly received in the annular groove 30 of the capsule 16 when the capsule 16 is inserted in the handle portion 12. The spring 89 serves to bias the detent 98 oflatch 87 into the annular groove 30. The upper end of the spring 89 is provided with detent means 101 which are received within a lateral groove 102 formed in the inner surface of bottom wall 77 of the intermediate portion 22. When the latch means 84 and power capsule are in their uppermost position, the detent means 101 on the spring 89 assists the counterbalance spring 88 in holding the power capsule in its uppermost position within the handle portion.

The concave end is rounded and has an inclined surface 103 facing downwardly and extending inwardly and downwardly from the rounded end 100 toward the latch 87 as shown in FIG. 1. When the capsule 16 is inserted into the handle portion 12 the beveled end surface 250 of upper end 25 of the capsule 16 slides past inclined surface 103 and (at the same time) forces latch means 84 laterally outwardly from the intermediate portion 22, against the force of biasing spring 89 until upper end 25 has been pushed upwardly past the detent 98, whereupon biasing spring 89 forces detent 98 into the annular groove 30. The operating member 86 is provided with a projection or nose 105 at the upper end thereof which is engageable by the thumb of the operators hand gripping the hand grip portion 20 for flexing the latch means 84 outwardly to release the detent 98 from the annular groove 30 to remove the capsule 16 from the handle portion 12.

Preferably the operating member 86 is in the form of a thumb slide with lateral grooves 106 on the outer surface thereof which facilitate engagement and movement of the thumb slide 86 by the thumb of the operators hand holding the retinoscope 10, to move the capsule axially within the handle portion 12. Also the upper part of the body portion 26 of capsule 16 is preferably knurled as indicated at 107 to facilitate rotational and axial movement of the capsule by the thumb and/or forefinger of the operators hand holding the retinoscope 10. Alternatively the operator could use his other hand to move the power capsule 16 either axially or rotationally relative to the handle portion 12 by gripping either the knurled portion 107 or the lower end 27 ofthe-capsule 16.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 the head 14 includes a conventional lens 110 and mirror 112. In the practice of streak retinoscopy the bipin streak lamp 23 is moved axially by moving the capsule 16 via the thumb slide 86 oflatch means 84, to adjust the light reflected by the mirror 112 to obtain the desired focus of the streak or line of light from the linear filament 23a of the lamp 23 and is rotated to change the angular position of the streak oflight. Since the latch means 84 is in a fixed position on the handle portion 12, the head 14 is rotatably mounted on the handle portion 12 so that the operator can adjust the angular position of the head relative to the handle portion to whichever position the operator finds most comfortable when performing an eye examination using the retinoscope 10. For example in FIG. 1 the thumb slide 86 is 90 from the operators line of sight through peep hole 113 in nameplate 114; whereas in FIG. 3 the thumb slide is in line with the operators line ofsight.

To provide this rotatable mounting of the head 14 on the handle portion 12 the lamp receiving portion 18 is provided with a tubular extension 115 which extends up into the head portion 14. The head 14 is formed of two parts, a body member 116 preferably formed or molded from a plastic material and a cover member 117 preferably made of metal. The two members 116 and 117 are secured together by four screws 119, 120, 121 and 122. The body member 116 has a partially cylindrical bore 123 therein which receives the tubular extension 115. The side of the bore facing cover member 117 is open. The cover member 117 has a dished, partially cylindrical recess 124 which matches up or mates with the bore 123 to form a complete cylindrical bore when the members 116 and 117 are secured together. A portion 125 of the bore 123 is of reduced diameter and projects inwardly of the bore to receive a reduced in diameter portion or annular slot 126 of tubular extension 115. A generally rectangular slot 127 is formed across the dished recess 124 for receiving a metal strip 128 of spring metal. The metal strip 128 is arranged to extend into the annular slot 126 of tubular extension 115. When the members 116 and 117 are secured together the projection 125 and the metal strips 128 received in annular slot 126 hold the tubular extension 115 to the head 14 and prevent axial movement of the extension 115 within the head 14. When the screws 119, 120, 121 and 122 are tightened the metal strip 128 frictionally engages the tubular extension 115 to hold the head 14 in any desired angular position with respect to the handle portion 12 while permitting 360 rotation of the head 14. Preferably the lens 110 is secured within the upper end 129 of tubular extension 115.

We claim:

1. In a streak retinoscope assembly, the improvement comprising the combination of a handle portion having a tubular lamp receiving portion, a coaxial tubular hand grip portion, an intermediate portion bridging and connecting the lamp receiving portion and the hand grip portion, and a head connected to the lamp receiving portion and having a lens and mirror therein, with an elongated unitary lamp and power source capsule telescopically and releasably received in said handle portion, said capsule having at one end a lamp socket, which mounts a lamp which is releasably received in said lamp receiving portion, and which includes lamp socket contacts, fixed electrical contacts for connection to a source of electrical potential and fixed electrical connections in said capsule between said lamp socket contacts and said fixed electrical contacts, and said intermediate portion of said handle portion having latch means for releasably holding said capsule within said handle portion for unlimited rotational movement and for limited axial movement.

2. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head is rotatably mounted so that the operator can adjust the angular position of the head with respect to the intermediate portion.

3. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixed electrical contacts are located at the other end of said capsule for releasably connecting said capsule to an electrical cord from an electric power source.

4. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said source of electric potential comprises battery means within said capsule and said electrical connections include switch means electrically interposed between said lamp and said battery means.

5. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 4 wherein said battery means is rechargeable and said capsule has external electrical contacts at said other end thereof which are connected to said electrical connections and which are adapted for connection to a battery charger.

6. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 5 wherein part of said switch means forms one of said extended electrical contacts.

7. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion is in the form of a channel member and has a longitudinal slot therein, said capsule has an annular groove therein spaced from said lamp, and said latch means is mounted on said intermediate portion and includes an operating member engageable by the thumb of the operator's hand gripping the hand grip portion, a guide post extending from said operating member into said slot, and a latch connected to said guide post and slidably received in said channel member, said latch including a detent which is snap fittingly received in said annular groove when said capsule is inserted in said handle portion to hold said capsule to said body member while permitting unlimited rotation of said capsule.

8. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion has an enlarged slot therein I and guideways on an outer surface thereof, said capsule has an annular groove therein spaced from said lamp, and said latch means is mounted on said intermediate portion and includes an operating member slidably received between said guideways for limited longitudinal movement axially of said intermediate portion, said operating member including a boss portion received in said slot for longitudinal movement therein and a latch connected to said boss portion, said latch having a detent resiliently engaging said groove when said capsule is inserted in said handle portion and a counterbalance spring connected at one end within said lamp receiving portion and at the other end to said operating member, said counterbalance spring counterbalancing the weight of said capsule so that said capsule will stay fixed in position after its position has been axially adjusted by moving the operating member.

9. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means includes means for axially adjusting the position of said capsule within said body member.

10. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 9 wherein said latch means includes a counterbalance spring connected between said lamp receiving portion and said axial adjustment means to counterbalance the weight of said capsule.

11. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 9 wherein said axial adjustment means comprises a thumb slide mounted on said intermediate portion for movement axially thereof.

12. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 11 wherein said capsule has an annular groove and said latch means comprises a detent which is snap tittingly received in said groove when said capsule is inserted in said handle portion.

13. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 12 wherein the upper end of said thumb slide includes a projection engageable by the thumb of the operator's hand gripping the hand grip portion whereby the thumb slide can be flexed outwardly to release the detent from said annular groove to remove said capsule from said handle portion.

14. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 12 wherein said detent is resiliently biased into said groove by spring means situated between said detent and said intermediate portion.

15. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spring means is movable with said latch means and comprises detent means, said intermediate portion having a laterally disposed groove therein for receiving said detent means when said capsule is in its uppermost position. Intermediate portion having a laterally disposed groove therein for receiving said detent means when said capsule is in its uppermost position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. '3 597,051 Dated August 3, 1971 Inventor(s) Jacob C. Copeland 8c Walter M. Lewis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 21, "move" should be --moved--.

Column 5, line 50, "extended" should be --external--.

Column 6, line 53, after the word "position." delete "Intermediate portion having a. laterally disposed groove therein for receiving said detent means when said capsule is in its uppermost position."

Signed and sealed this 28th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents "ORM PO-105O (10-69) e u s aovwuuzm Pmm'mt OFFICE nos o-ass-su 

1. In a streak retinoscope assembly, the improvement comprising the combination of a handle portion having a tubular lamp receiving portion, a coaxial tubular hand grip portion, an intermediate portion bridging and connecting the lamp receiving portion and the hand grip portion, and a head connected to the lamp receiving portion and having a lens and mirror therein, with an elongated unitary lamp and power source capsule telescopically and releasably received in said handle portion, said capsule having at one end a lamp socket, which mounts a lamp which is releasably received in said lamp receiving portion, and which includes lamp socket contacts, fixed electrical contacts for connection to a source of electrical potential and fixed electrical connections in said capsule between said lamp socket contacts and said fixed electrical contacts, and said intermediate portion of said handle portion having latch means for releasably holding said capsule within said handle portion for unlimited rotational movement and for limited axial movement.
 2. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head is rotatably mounted so that the operator can adjust the angular position of the head with respect to the intermediate portion.
 3. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixed electrical contacts are located at the other end of said capsule for releasably connecting said capsule to an electrical cord from an electric power source.
 4. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said source of electric potential comprises battery means within said capsule and said electrical connections include switch means electrically interposed between said lamp and said battery means.
 5. A streak retinoscopE as set forth in claim 4 wherein said battery means is rechargeable and said capsule has external electrical contacts at said other end thereof which are connected to said electrical connections and which are adapted for connection to a battery charger.
 6. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 5 wherein part of said switch means forms one of said extended electrical contacts.
 7. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion is in the form of a channel member and has a longitudinal slot therein, said capsule has an annular groove therein spaced from said lamp, and said latch means is mounted on said intermediate portion and includes an operating member engageable by the thumb of the operator''s hand gripping the hand grip portion, a guide post extending from said operating member into said slot, and a latch connected to said guide post and slidably received in said channel member, said latch including a detent which is snap fittingly received in said annular groove when said capsule is inserted in said handle portion to hold said capsule to said body member while permitting unlimited rotation of said capsule.
 8. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion has an enlarged slot therein and guideways on an outer surface thereof, said capsule has an annular groove therein spaced from said lamp, and said latch means is mounted on said intermediate portion and includes an operating member slidably received between said guideways for limited longitudinal movement axially of said intermediate portion, said operating member including a boss portion received in said slot for longitudinal movement therein and a latch connected to said boss portion, said latch having a detent resiliently engaging said groove when said capsule is inserted in said handle portion and a counterbalance spring connected at one end within said lamp receiving portion and at the other end to said operating member, said counterbalance spring counterbalancing the weight of said capsule so that said capsule will stay fixed in position after its position has been axially adjusted by moving the operating member.
 9. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means includes means for axially adjusting the position of said capsule within said body member.
 10. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 9 wherein said latch means includes a counterbalance spring connected between said lamp receiving portion and said axial adjustment means to counterbalance the weight of said capsule.
 11. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 9 wherein said axial adjustment means comprises a thumb slide mounted on said intermediate portion for movement axially thereof.
 12. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 11 wherein said capsule has an annular groove and said latch means comprises a detent which is snap fittingly received in said groove when said capsule is inserted in said handle portion.
 13. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 12 wherein the upper end of said thumb slide includes a projection engageable by the thumb of the operator''s hand gripping the hand grip portion whereby the thumb slide can be flexed outwardly to release the detent from said annular groove to remove said capsule from said handle portion.
 14. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 12 wherein said detent is resiliently biased into said groove by spring means situated between said detent and said intermediate portion.
 15. A streak retinoscope as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spring means is movable with said latch means and comprises detent means, said intermediate portion having a laterally disposed groove therein for receiving said detent means when said capsule is in its uppermost position. Intermediate portion having a laterally disposed groove therein for receiving said detent means when said capsule is in its uppermost position. 